LATINA VIVIT!

Across the nation, studies have shown Latin to be effective in improving SAT Scores.

Studies conducted by the Educational Testing Service show that Latin students consistently outperform all other students on the verbal portion of the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT).

	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001
Latin	648	647	654	662	665	665
All Students	504	505	505	505	505	506
French	625	623	627	632	636	633
German	625	624	617	623	621	625
Spanish	576	581	583	590	589	583
Hebrew	622	629	634	636	623	628

*Taken from Tables 7-3 & 7-4 in College-Bound Seniors — A Profile of SAT Program Test Takers.

Knowing a little Latin can help you figure out the meanings of some complex English words. Do you know what these words mean?

1. Do you suffer from somniambulation?

2. Is steel thermoduric?

3. Would you be glad or sad if someone wrote a laudatory story about you?

4. Years ago DNA research was terra incognita.

5. What do you do if you annihilate the enemy?

6. He has a tenacious memory.

7. What does a soliloquist do?

8. Are you a procrastinator?

9. What do you do when you genuflect?

10. If slaves have been manumitted, would they be happy or sad?

ANSWERS

1. from somnus (sleep) + ambulare (to walk) = sleepwalking

2. from thermo (heat) + durus (strong) = able to stand up under hea

3. from laudare (praise) = admiring

4. from terra (land) + incognita (unknown) = uncharted territory

5. from ad (to) + nihil (nothing) = reduce to nothing

6. from tenere (to hold) = firm, resolute

7. from solus (alone) + loquere (to speak) = talk to oneself

8. from pro (for) + cras (tomorrow) = one who puts things off for later

9. from genu (knee) + flectere (bend) = to bend the knee

10. from manus (hand) + mittere (to send) = to send by the hand (the act of freeing a slave)

Top Ten Reasons to Study Classics

(source unknown, unfortunately)

10. "You acquire a certain logic and intuitive sense about language." -Newspaper editor

9. "Classics gives a perspective on life of beauty and greatness of the Roman and Greek cultures--arts, philosophy, literature, leadership, etc." -Owner of business consulting firm

8. "Improved vocabulary, confidence in front of people, better writing techniques. Key item: The discipline I learned has been a critical success factor, especially in the U.S. Military." -Retired military

7. "...strong vocabulary and the ability to write, two qualities which are sorely lacking in many medical students. Practically any term in medicine comes from Latin or Greek, which allows me to memorize complicated words or phrases more easily." -Medical student

6. "I found law school a breeze because of the discipline and hard work habits I developed in Classics. My awareness of linguistic processes and details is a constant strength in reading, and thinking." -Law school/Texas Legislature

5. "Classics taught me the value of discussion without argument; taught me to listen and appreciate other points of view." -Dentist

4. "Latin definitely has helped me. It implies some skills and character traits: attention to detail, knowledge of how languages work, good vocabulary, good writing skills, worldly outlook ...and maybe even wisdom." -Medical editor

3. "I appreciate having studied the Classics so much that I wish that I had the power to influence/persuade the curriculum writers in my district to make the study of Latin mandatory for all students who are seriously college bound. I see the study of Latin as one possible remedy for the plummeting SAT verbal scores." -English teacher

2. "Because of its great breadth for embracing as it does logical thinking, precise analysis, lucid expression and with its overview of human thought and development, history, economics, business and politics, Classics constitutes the single best preparation in general sense for almost any of life's available pursuits!" -Founder of a middle school

AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON IS: Impressive credentials for any kind of job!

WHAT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES ARE OPEN TO ME IF I TAKE COURSES IN LATIN?

Because it is an interdisciplinary liberal arts field that demonstrates a breadth of interest and seriousness of purpose, Latin is widely recognized as an excellent preparation for careers in law, medicine, business, education, publishing, social work, communications, and the arts. Latin carries over into such other fields as medieval and modern history, political science, and comparative literature. In general, studying Latin will provide you with marketable skills that will be valuable in whatever career you pursue:

· An historical and interdisciplinary perspective on contemporary issues.

· The ability to analyze and synthesize written arguments and data.

· Precision in reading and writing.

· The ability to express ideas clearly and persuasively.

· Grammatical accuracy and a large working vocabulary.

· The ability to use computers as research tools.

Here is a brief list of institutions and organizations that have hired classics majors:

· Radio/TV Stations
· Real Estate Companies
· Newspapers
· Magazines
· Social Services
· Business
· Government
· Libraries
· Corporations
· Publishing Companies
· Government Agencies
· Museums
· Sales
· Publishing Houses
· Public Relations

Colleges and universities which have foreign language entrance requirements usually accept Latin as readily as they accept modern languages.

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See What Althoff Students Say About This!!

Latin is the language of the sciences and medicine. Someone once said, “If you know the vocabulary of a subject, then you know the subject.” Learning Latin helps win half the battle in learning the sciences, as the vocabulary of the sciences will already be familiar.

The literature of Western Civilization is saturated with Latin, and understanding Latin therefore leads to a greater understanding of our literature.

Latin is widely recognized as an excellent preparation for careers in law, medicine, business, education, publishing, social work, communications, and the arts. Latin carries over into such other fields as medieval and modern history, political science, and comparative literature.

Latin gives greater understanding of English, in two ways. First, in its grammatical structure: Latin words are inflected. English syntax is more complicated than that, as word function is determined by word order in an English sentence. Learning Latin grammar first helps prepare students for English syntax.. Therefore, learning Latin grammar can help tremendously in learning English grammar. Secondly, Latin helps in the understanding of English in its vocabulary, as over 50% of English words have Latin origins.

Latin is a precise language, more so than English. The language follows its rules the great majority of the time. Studying its precise forms and grammar helps to develop precise thinking skills, which, once developed, are of benefit in other subjects as well.

Latin is the root of the Romance languages of French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian. Studying Latin will benefit those students who go on to study any of these languages.

The literature of Western Civilization is saturated with Latin, and understanding Latin therefore leads to a greater understanding of our literature.

Latin students were given a survey about Latin. Here are their feelings about Latin.

How has Latin helped you in other classes?

Latin helped me in religion class.

Latin’s been very helpful in most of my science classes, especially anatomy.

I was the only person who knew AMADEUS meant love of God.

Latin helped me with the periodic table.

I’ve learned a lot of English in Latin class. I finally get the passive voice!

Latin helped me in English class with Julius Caesar.

It helped me get bonus points in Religion when the teacher asked “ What does ____mean?, because she usually asks Latin words because she took Latin.

I understand English grammar better.

Studying Roman culture helped when we studied Roman history in Social Studies.

I have a bible that has some Latin in it and I’m able to translate parts of it.

What do you like the most about Latin? The least?

I like having small classes with the same students each year.

Discussions are good--studying for vocabulary gets to be a pain.

Latin is good because you have the same teacher for 4 years. Classes are smaller so you get more one on one help than in other classes.

You don’t get graded for speaking Latin!!

I enjoyed the mythology but I hate declining and conjugating!

I liked doing the reenactments of the gladiator games.

I like the vocabulary tests--they are easy to study for. I hate semester exams.

I enjoyed learning the language and about the Roman culture. I think reading the actual prose and poetry is the best part-- so stick with all four years.

Latin is a pain sometimes.

I like reviewing with Hands Down chariot races. I hate unit tests.

I like the smaller classes. Everybody gets close.

I like the mythology but almost nothing else.

This is a very time consuming class.

I would like Latin better if my grade were better--but that’s my fault.

I like the vocabulary best. I like to learn about word origins. I hate conjugating, declining, and writing from English to Latin!

Latin is hard at times, but it’s fun too.

Do have any advice for future students?

Don’t stress over Latin.

The grammar is hard but if you pay attention and study you will succeed.

Make flashcards for your vocabulary quizzes.

Get along with the teacher---she’s the only one!

Latin makes you look really smart even if you’re not.

Study a little each night and you’ll be number one in the class.

Latin is for special people.

Pay attention in the beginning--learn the vocabulary or you will regret it later.

You need good study skills to pass.

You can’t cram and expect to remember the vocabulary.

Use your time wisely and study.

Learn the sentence parts and memorize every word you learn.

Carpe Diem!

Learn about the Romans. They wrote great literature, conquered most of the known world, engineered roads, arches, and buildings which are still being used, and gave the world many laws and forms of government that survive until today (the words law, government, president, Congress, senator, and constitution are all Latin). Latin offers us the chance to learn history in a more immediate way: we can hear the Romans speak for themselves.


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Latin was the language of the Romans, the people of a single Italian city who built and conquered their way to an empire 2000 years ago. They controlled parts of more than 40 modern countries: all the land around the Mediterranean Sea, north and west to Britain, east to Iraq and Iran, and south to the Sahara Desert in Africa. Latin is no longer spoken by any single city or country--no one learns it as his or her native language--and this is the reason it is classified as a "dead language." But it has never stopped being read and written: it was the language of the Roman Catholic Church throughout the Middle Ages, and the common language of all the basic sciences, medicine, and education. Latin also changed and developed over the years into different languages in different parts of Europe: Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Roumanian, and several other languages all developed directly from Latin. Even in English, which did not grow out of Latin, at least 60% of the words in our language come from Latin.